Strategic Advisory Support & Delivery
|
Instrument/
Tool
|
Description & Availability
|
Use & Status
|
WCO Capacity Building Strategy
|
This Strategy was adopted by the Council in June 2003. In addition to guiding the capacity building work of the WCO, the strategy also reflects on the enablers for successful capacity building, lessons learned and other critical issues.
|
Ongoing.
|
WCO Capacity Building Delivery Programme
|
The WCO Capacity Building delivery is based on ownership and results-based management. These principles are reflected in the 3 phases of WCO Capacity Building support that consist of:
- Diagnostic phase
- Strategic Planning and Implementation Phase
- Monitoring and Evaluation Phase
|
Ongoing delivery.
|
WCO Capacity Building needs assessment process
|
The WCO Secretariat has developed the infrastructure and standard operating procedures for processing requests for assistance, funding, accrediting and allocating experts, as well as ensuring the delivery of assistance.
To manage on-going capacity building requests, the WCO deals with requirements in a corporate way, involving all Directorates and donors/development partners on the basis of systematic and transparent procedures. As a result, the WCO Secretariat draws up a CB delivery plan for every financial year.
|
Ongoing delivery.
|
WCO Experts’ Requirement Matrix
|
Based on the annual CB needs assessment process, the WCO Secretariat identifies the needs for support by accredited experts from Member administrations. To allow for early planning, the WCO Secretariat sends out the “Experts Requirement Matrix” providing an overview of missions in need, for which Members can indicate their interest to support.
|
Regularly updated and sent to Member administrations.
|
Capacity Builders’ Newsletter
|
The Capacity Builders’ Newsletter is a regular short update for accredited WCO experts, written in the form of articles that contain information on latest CB-related events and meeting, examples of experts’ experiences during missions and hints towards future events. It is published 3-4 times a year.
Newsletters can be accessed
|
So far 5 issues of the Capacity Builders’ Newsletter have been published.
|
Guidelines for WCO Experts
|
The Capacity Building Directorate has developed guidelines for external WCO experts. These guidelines provide general information about what kind of assistance the expert can obtain from the WCO when preparing for a mission, during the implementation of the mission, and during the post-mission phase.
|
Ongoing use for delivery of CB missions.
|
Diagnostic Framework
|
The DF is an important contribution to improving the design, implementation and evaluation of capacity building projects. Its ultimate goal is the enhancement of the performance of Customs administrations around the world. It forms the basis for the complete diagnostic phase mentioned above, looking at the “A to Z” of modern Customs, and supports any monitoring and evaluation phase, too. It is also structured in a way that Customs Management can use it on national level as a self-management/modernization tool for the entire administration or specific parts of the administration.
It can be purchased at:
|
Through the CBC, the DF is reviewed on regular basis, and any updates, as applicable, are approved through the CBC.
The most recent update, to be presented at CBC IV, includes an update on AEO developments.
|
Capacity Building Development Compendium
|
The WCO Capacity Building Development Compendium has been developed as a guide to the Key Management techniques needed to enable Members to take full control of their own organizational development. It is used as a reference for reform & modernization planning and implementation, as well as by facilitators conducting Capacity Building/support missions.
|
Like the DF, the compendium is reviewed on regular basis and updates have to be approved through the CBC.
|
|
The following topics are offered in the compendium:
- Strategic Management
- Change Management
- Project Management
- Benchmarking
- Tendering and contracting process
- Technology acquisition process
- Customs Enterprise Architecture
- Human Resource Management & Leadership
- Donor Engagement
- Supply chain management
- Organization Performance Measurement
This publication is available from the WCO bookshop:
|
The compendium is a continuously developing document with additional chapters added at regular intervals to reflect the ever changing nature of reform and modernization.
The most recent updates, to be presented at CBC IV, include updates on the HR and donor engagement chapters.
One possible future amendment, pending respective experience, is related to Performance Measurement work, together with development partners, such as the World Bank and the IADB.
|
Model for Capacity Building Support Agreements
|
The WCO has prepared an example or ‘template’ MOU for use in negotiating and drafting Capacity Building support agreements. The model is related to a Tripartite Agreement between two Administrations and the WCO, but is easily adaptable also to purely bilateral agreements, South-South arrangements or other forms of Capacity Building cooperation.
“Tripartite Agreements” is an example of such support agreements and are between the WCO Secretariat and two participating Customs administrations. The arrangement is a partnership whereby the commitment of the beneficiary Member to modernize is matched by the obligation to long-term support by the sponsor Member and WCO.
The scope of these agreements is informed by the specific capacity building aims agreed to by the participants.
|
Ongoing delivery for the duration of the agreement.
|
WCO Capacity Building Progress Report
|
This report is published twice a year. In addition to providing an update on capacity building activities in Members and showing the results of such efforts, it also contains case studies and other useful information.
|
Ongoing.
|
Regional Offices for Capacity Building (ROCB) and Regional Training Centres (RTCs)
|
The WCO has developed a Regional Capacity Building Strategy , where you can also find detailed information about the 6 Regional Offices for Capacity Building (ROCB) and the current 23 Regional Training Centres (RTC):
Currently 3 ROCB (Asia/Pacific, Americas and Caribbean and Europe) have regional websites, too:
www.wcoasiapacific.org
www.wcoamericaribe.org
www.rocb-europe.org
|
Once a year, the WCO invites the Regional Vice Chairs, the ROCBs and the RTCs to their annual meeting in Brussels.
Upon decision by the individual WCO regions, there might also be ROCB/RTC meetings on regional level.
|
|
The Regional Capacity Building Strategy promotes sharing ideas and activities on regional and/or sub-regional level, in order to achieve the same regional objectives, including economic growth and social development. It ensures efficient and effective allocation of resources and support via the Regional Vice Chairs, the ROCBs and the RTCs to respond best to regional and national Capacity Building needs. ROCBs support Members mainly in their Capacity Building needs assessment process and help coordinate Capacity Building activities within the respective WCO region. RTCs, together with ROCBs, are best placed to identify and respond to Members’ training needs and can offer training broader in scope than national possibilities allow.
|
|